Growing Together: building skills and a low carbon community at Beannachar
Beannachar Camphill Community was awarded £14,709 from the Unlock Our Future Fund to repair and refurbish greenhouse and polytunnel space for organic food growing, horticulture training, and therapeutic gardening.
Beannachar is a Camphill Community located just outside Aberdeen, providing a training centre and residential care for young adults with learning disabilities. Beannachar operates on a 28-acre site that includes an organic farm, walled garden, grassed walkways, and woodlands, along with four residential houses and workshop buildings offering crafts such as woodwork and weaving.
In 2023, the centre was awarded £14,709 from the Unlock Our Future Fund to repair and refurbish 85m² of greenhouse and polytunnel space for organic food growing, horticulture training, and therapeutic gardening. The award also funded an electric lawn tractor (replacing a diesel mower); three push mowers (without electricity or fossil fuels) to reduce carbon emissions and allow more trainees to get involved with grass cutting; and a cargo e-bike to transport produce from the gardens to the residential houses on-site, eliminating the need for a petrol van.
The impact of the project has been positive for students, staff, and the wider community, and the project results go well beyond the direct benefits of carbon saving. Students have gained new skills while spending quality time outdoors.
As the project has developed, students have helped make decisions on what to grow and learned techniques to expand their range of organic produce. They have also explored biodynamic farming practices through visits to local gardens, where they picked up composting tips and discussed establishing a wormery. The fresh produce has led to initiatives like "Meat-Free Mondays" across services, promoting healthier choices.
The project has delivered many successful outcomes. Students have gained confidence, independence, and a sense of calm from gardening, with some even taking on their own plots. Staff have observed improvements in behaviour and sleep, and the community has celebrated these efforts by creating a popular recipe book featuring homegrown ingredients. There have been a few challenges along the way. The original e-cargo bike model selected for the project was discontinued, but this allowed the purchase of two similar models, expanding access to eco-friendly transport. The new electric mower, though quieter, is slower to use, so this has required some adjustment to work planning.
Overall, the project has strengthened connections to the land and fostered a sense of community around sustainable living. Students are developing practical skills and confidence, while families have noted positive changes in health and engagement. The project is making a significant contribution to Beannachar’s ongoing work in sustainable gardening and community engagement.
Feedback on one student was especially positive:
The changes in this young adult are evident. They smile more, have the confidence to stop and speak to people, and we now hear they hope to use the new e-cargo bike to help with mobility and balance in delivering produce. This would be a significant milestone of achievement and one that would not have been realised without the support from the Unlock Our Future Fund.
Read more about the Vattenfall Unlock Our Future Fund here